Smoking

Smoking increases your risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, and dementia. You can reduce your risk of dementia if you are able to stop smoking or reduce the amount you smoke. Smoking is thought to increase your risk of dementia because: • it is very harmful to your heart and blood vessels and what is bad for the heart and circulation is also bad for the brain • damaged blood vessels can lead to stroke and coronary heart disease, which increase your risk of dementia • smoking can contribute to the build-up of fatty substances in the blood vessels, causing narrowing of the blood vessels supplying the heart and brain; this stops enough oxygen getting to your brain cells, so they become damaged • smoking makes your blood much more likely to clot which increases the risk of having a heart attack or stroke • smoking damages brain cells. Research suggests that after several years of not smoking, the risk of dementia in former smokers is close to that of people who never smoked. People who smoke have a much better chance of stopping smoking if they have support. There are many different ways to find support: • ask your GP for advice • talk to your pharmacist • talk to Quit your way. Advisers give free information and advice about how to stop smoking, can help you to come up with a plan that’s right for you, and tell you what support is available locally. Call freephone 0800 84 84 84 or use their webchat at www.nhsinform.scot/campaigns/quit-your-way-scotland.